How to Reserve a Picnic Pavilion, Facility or Athletic Field

Picnic Pavilion and Facility Reservations

All picnic and facility permits must be made in person at Community Services Department located at 230 E. Chapman Avenue.

A picnic or facility permit must be completed no later than the Wednesday of the week prior to the date of the event. Reservations can be made up to three (3) months in advance (with the exception of the Orange Senior Center, see information below).

In order to receive resident rates, the resident must bring in one of the following, postmarked within the last 60-days: utility bill, tax or escrow papers, credit card or bank statement, or a car registration, with a form of payment that matches the name on the proof of residency.

Limited space is available and all reservations are based on a first reserved basis. No reservation is confirmed until a permit has been approved and the reservation deposits and fees are paid in full. Facilities (Olive Park building and Handy Park building) may be reserved from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. (this includes time alloted for set-up and clean-up), Shaffer Park building may be reserved from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. (this includes time alloted for set-up and clean-up), and the Senior Center may be reservable from 3 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. (this includes time alloted for set-up and clean-up).

All deposits are refundable if there is no damage to the facility and the area is cleaned properly. Please allow 5-6 weeks after event date for deposit returns.

The permit holder must be present on day of the event and have the permit on hand at all times. Approval depends upon intended use, availability and the conditions deemed necessary by the Community Services Department.

There are activities that are prohibited in City of Orange parks. Click here for those rules.

Weather Policy

The user group must take full responsibility for coordinating their event appropriately.The City of Orange will not grant a facility or picnic refund for inclement weather inconvenience. However, the user group will be allowed to reschedule there picnic reservation up to three months in advance if inclement weather is the main factor for not attending their scheduled picnic reservation. The user group is to take full responsibility for calling the City of Orange Community Services Department within 24-hours of the next business day if the reservation was cancelled do to inclement weather. However, if the Community Services Department does not receive a phone call or message within 24-hours of the next business day, the user group will not be allowed to re-schedule their event and all fees will be forfeit. All deposits will be refunded in the form of payment which it had been received. If the deposit(s) were received in the form of cash the user group will be receiving their deposit back in the form of a check. All deposit refunds will be issued within 5-6 weeks of the scheduled event date.

All picnic and facility permits must be made in person at Community Services Department located at 230 E. Chapman Avenue.

To make a Senior Center reservation a facility permit must be completed no later than two (2) months prior to event date. Reservations will be accepted as early as one (1) year prior to event date. The facility will accommodate approximately 225 people. The deposit fees are required to be paid in full when reserving the facility.All other fees must be paid in full no later than two (2) months prior to reservation date. Alcohol is prohibited at all youth orientated events and all reservations must pay for security. The permit holder must be present at the event and have the permit on hand at all times. Approval depends upon intended use, availability and the conditions deemed necessary by the Community Services Department.

Moonbounce Permits

All moonbounces must have a city permit (O.M.C. 12.48.105) (see requirements for a permit in “How to Reserve a Facility or Picnic Pavilion”).

All moonbounces must be operated by their own generators.

Moonbounces cause damage to turf. Therefore, please be cautious as to where moonbounces are located.

All vehicles are prohibited on park premises (O.M.C. 12.48.070).

Moonbounce space is limited.

Permit holder must be present and have the permit on hand at all times.

Weddings, Bandshell, Citywide Special Event, and Park Special Event Permits.

All wedding ceremonies require a city permit (O.M.C. 12.48.105) (see requirements for a permit in “How to Reserve a Facility or Picnic Pavilion”).

Bandshell usage requires a city permit ( O.M.C. 12.48.105) (see requirements for a permit in “How to Reserve a Facility or Picnic Pavilion”).

Groups with occupancy over 300 or groups wanting amplified music must go through Code Enforcement Division of the Community Development Department for a Citywide Special Event permit before a permit is granted (O.M.C. 12.48.105-12.48.125).

Any group of 25 people or more is required to have a park permit. Examples of events that would require a Park/Facility Special Event permit include, but are not limited to: a picnic consisting of 200 people or more, an outdoor event with live or amplified sound, carnival, opening/closing day organized sports season festivities, outdoor church congregation, car show, etc. (O.M.C. 12.48.105).Click here for Park Special Event Permit information and application

Helpful Hints for Planning an Event

Do not send out invitations for your event until you have confirmed your reservation event date.

All groups over 25 require a permit (O.M.C. 12.48.105).

Reservations cannot be saved or placed on hold.

No reservations can be made by e-mail or fax.

All fees and deposits are required to be paid in full when reserving any park permit.

There is no alcohol allowed on City of Orange park premises (O.M.C. 12.48.030).

Limited space is available for reservations.

All reservations are based on first reserved basis.

In order to receive resident rates, the resident must bring in one of the following, postmarked within the last 60-days: utility bill, tax or escrow papers, credit card or bank statement, or a car registration, with a form of payment that matches the name on the proof of residency.

No private vehicles are allowed on park premises without a proper permit (O.M.C. 12.48.070).

Athletic Field Reservations: While there are athletic fields available throughout the City for reservation, City of Orange organized sport youth groups are given priority for field use. However, if you would like to check the availability of a field, please contact Recreation Services Coordinator Emanuel Rodriguez at 714-744-7265.